Veterans Memorial

On Friday, May 17, the University of Redlands will hold a memorial event honoring the military men and women who have sacrificed their lives for this country.

The program will start at 9 a.m. in front of the Memorial Chapel, and is open to the public. It will feature bagpipes and remarks from administrators, Chaplain John Walsh, and Richard Valdez, senior vice commander of Disabled American Veterans, Department of California. The Quad will be filled with white crosses and American flags, similar to what appears at Arlington National Cemetery.

“The idea came about in mid-March, and it was proposed that it happen in time for Memorial Day,” said Cheryl Kleeman, a United States Coast Guard veteran and veterans affairs specialist certifying official at the University of Redlands. “We got a vision, and this is what came together out of it.”

The event will hit home for many students and community members, including Emily Taylor ’16, the daughter of Lt. Cmdr. Keith Taylor ’91, who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq in 2005. During the event, Kleeman will give a tribute to the Taylor family.

“It’s important to show support of veterans, and especially to those families of soldiers who fell in battle,” she said. “This is the first event like this that has taken place since 9/11, and nothing has really been done to honor the soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines who have gone and fought for our freedoms. They truly exemplify what it means to sacrifice everything to achieve freedom and peace across the world, and it’s huge for them to have support.”